WSIPP: Publication

Report Detail
Full Report	August 2009
Public Guardianship Services in Washington State: Pilot Program Implementation and Review Mason Burley
The 2007 Washington State Legislature established an Office of Public Guardianship within the Administrative Office of the Courts. The office is intended to “promote the availability of guardianship services for individuals who need them and for whom adequate services may otherwise be unavailable.” Public guardianship services are available in six pilot counties throughout Washington State. By June 2009, 71 cases had been referred to public guardians. This report summarizes detailed assessments and discusses the implementation of the public guardianship pilot program. The Legislature also directed the Institute to “analyze the costs and off-setting savings to the state from the delivery of public guardianship services.” The Institute’s final evaluation report (December 2011) will analyze the benefits and costs of the pilot program. Document ID: (09-08-3901)